I. Chapter 2
It had begun during that awful, hopeful day in Baltimore.
Dr Scott turned away from the little girl she had just injected with her last dose of vaccine, leaving the mother to die. Her eyes were stinging, her mind horribly confused with guilt and triumph and sadness and hope.
Nodding to the marines with her she grabbed the empty case and turned. They could return to the ship now.
"Dr Scott?" a deep, a little rough voice called out. The tall woman looked around questioningly.
A stranger stood maybe thirty feet down the road. She was not overly tall, slender, and dressed in functional jeans and shirt, an overlarge dark rangers coat over her shoulders. She carried a backpack, and a long wooden staff. A short knife was visible in a sheath on her belt.
Rachel frowned. "Who are you?" She searched her memory, but nothing helpful came to mind. The young woman – she was maybe five to ten years younger than Rachel herself – had dark hair that was bound at the back of her head, hidden in the coat's hood. Large grey eyes, the most prominent feature of a finely chiselled face, regarded the other woman warily. A narrow, slightly aquiline nose stood above a sensitive mouth. Her skin was lightly tanned. She took a few steps closer.
"You are Dr Rachel Scott?"
Rachel glanced at her two companions. They stood alertly following the interaction.
"That is my name. Who are you?"
"I recognized you from my uncle's list. I am-"
"What list? Who is your uncle?" that was the young marine to her right. He had lowered his weapon.
The young woman lifted her hands slightly. "My uncle is – was Dr Michael Rykers. He gave me…"
Rachel could not help a gasp. "Dr Ryker is dead? Oh god, do you know anything about his colleagues? Where was he last?"
"Ma'am, we should hurry!"
"Yes, I know, but if this girl can give me some answers… please let her speak."
"My uncle lived last in his cabin near River Haven, near Albemarle."
"That sounds like him."
"How do you know she speaks the truth?"
"He would always only specify Albemarle near Charlotte. But I knew him. Go on." Rachel lifted her chin at the girl. "What list?"
"Just before he got sick, he made a list of scientists that I should seek out, and where they were last stationed, or lived last."
"Show me. Why you?"
"He died three weeks ago. I – I found him, found what he had left for me, and was looking for Dr White, who was supposed to work in Washington."
"Bloody hell, that is correct, I know of him too." Rachel Scott was getting anxious. A sudden thought struck her. But the young woman was not finished.
"I heard of Avocet, of this place here, but what I saw – it's horrible what they are doing here. I am not certain, but it seems… Whatever, I need to ask you – you were stationed in the arctic. How are you here?"
That shook the doctor. "How did you know that? Dr Rykers … must have been on the inside."
"But how did you get here?"
The doctor was thinking through the implications. "On the Nathan James."
The young woman fixed the grey eyes on the two marines. "A ship?"
"Yes, a ship. Did your uncle give you anything, instructions, samples, anything?"
A bitter grimace transformed the pale face, making her seem very, very young for a moment. "There were samples, yes, and a small computer. But it was lost."
"How?" the older woman asked abruptly.
"I was overtaken by a group of marauders. They were too many for me. They took everything I had."
While Dr Scott wanted to believe the girl, they had learned the hard way that this situation made everybody untrustworthy. "All right. So why did you call out to me? Do you know anything helpful about this epidemic?"
"Actually, I was hoping for your help. I need to get to Hawaii, to find Dr Masters. At least I have to believe he is still there. He had a lab there..."
"But if you lost all samples, everything your uncle prepared, how could you be of use to him? Is he family, too?"
"No, he's not family. But do you think I could gain passage on your ship? Or do you know of any other ship that might travel south?"
Rachel took a hesitant and somewhat unwilling step back. "That would be the captain's decision. The Nathan James is not equipped for passengers. And I do not know she is heading to Hawaii."
"Oh." The girl looked so crestfallen that the doctor felt sorry for her.
"Look, you must have family around here, right?"
"No." she sounded forlorn.
"But you said your uncle died three weeks ago. Where have you – how did you get to Baltimore?"
"I hiked. Uncle Mike was adamant that I could be of use to Dr Masters and that I had to go on. I – he –" there were sudden tears in her eyes. "Well, I am sorry to have bothered you. Thank you for answering my questions, and I wish you the best of luck." She turned, wiping her eyes, and started to walk away.
The thought that had hit Rachel earlier came back, with force, and she called out: "Wait. How did your uncle die?"
The young woman half turned. "The way they all die."
Rachel felt goose bumps rise up her arms. "And how would you be of help to Dr Masters? Why him?"
Her counterpart turned fully, the grey eyes suddenly alert. "He is an immunologist."
"I know that. Are you a scientist, too?"
"No, I studied mathematics before the virus spread. But… I don't get sick."
"What?"
"I am immune."
Rachel made two steps toward the young woman before her two body-guards held her back forcefully.
"Ma'am!"
She glanced at them and squared her shoulders. "Right. Why should I believe you?"
The girl frowned, shook her shoulders. "Why would I lie. I am healthy."
"You could be infected."
"Then I have been infected for the last months." It came out dryly.
The doctor thought furiously. Finally she consulted her two companions quietly. Come to a conclusion, she turned to the young woman again. "Listen, if I promise to ask the captain about Hawaii, at least maybe a radio connection, will you let me test your blood? I cannot promise anything more."
"My blood? What for?" now the dark brows furrowed furiously.
"We have a vaccine." Rachel could not help the proud tone nor the twitch of her lips.
"Oh! Oh my god!" The young woman was such a picture of baffled relief, surprise and consternation that for the moment the doctor let go all thoughts of mistrust.
"You could use my blood?"
"I am fairly certain I could deduce all kinds of interesting things from your blood. Will you consider my offer?"
"But, do you have a lab?"
"The ship is reasonably well equipped."
"Oh, then…" she paused, eyeing the two marines and the doctor for a long moment. "Yes, I accept."
"Follow us – right now?"
"I have nothing that holds me here."